City Mission’s wheels are a-turnin’

A Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority bus is decked out to advertise the City Mission. (Submitted)

Renderings of the City Mission advertising on a Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority bus (Submitted)

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Washington City Mission is on the move, literally.

This week, a Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority bus took to the streets bearing a wrap advertising the City Mission, its services and its recycling and donation efforts, hopefully reaching a whole new audience in Washington and Allegheny counties, said Jerry Oxford, director of operations for the mission.

“We’re asking people to ride the bus with the City Mission,” Oxford said.

Each day for the next two years, the bus will make two trips from Donora through the Mon Valley and into Pittsburgh. The route will take the City Mission into areas where it has never been before.

“It definitely gets our name out there,” said Dean Gartland, mission president and chief executive officer.

The sides of the bus feature photos of City Mission employees at work, while the nonprofit’s mission statement is on the front and back. The advertisement was designed by Sign-A-Rama of McMurray.

The mission is a homeless shelter at 84 W. Wheeling St., Washington. It’s goal is to “end homelessness one life at a time.”

To fund its goal, the mission operates a successful recycling business and five thrift stores in Washington, Canonsburg, Donora, Monongahela and Waynesburg. A sixth store in Rostraver Township is in the planning stages.

While the bus venture is innovative, it is also costly, according to Oxford. That’s why the mission is seeking business sponsors to help offset the costs but at the same time sharing in on the great exposure as sponsors’ names are placed on a prominent spot on the bus.

“We‘ll use their logos, names and phone numbers ... they‘ll ride with us for the two years,” Oxford said.

He added, “It’s another way to build relationships. It helps them to help us.”

Any business wishing to become a sponsor on the City Mission bus can call Oxford at 724-222-8530.